Fire Triangle

It takes 3 things to cause a

fire
• Heat - or something that is HOT
• Fuel - or something that will BURN
• Oxygen - the air that we all breathe
and need to live
Prevention
• If you remove any one element, you prevent
the chemical chain reaction that results from
fire

Oxygen - or
the air all
around us

Fuel - or something that will burn

Can there be a GOOD fire?
• A good fire is one that is used carefully
and under controlled situations
 Grill
Good fire or
bad fire?
 Campfire
Good fire or
bad fire?
 Fireplace
Good fire or
bad fire?
 Cooking
Good fire or
bad fire?
 REMEMBER - Good fires can
turn into bad fires if you are not
careful with them.
 Types Of Fire
• Class A fire: Ordinary combustibles
such as wood, paper, carton, textile,
and PVC;
• Class B fire: Flammable liquid or
gaseous fuels such benzene,
gasoline, oil, butane, propane, and
natural gas;
• Class C fire: Involving energized
electrical equipment, often caused by
short circuits or overheated electrical
cables
 Types of Extinguishers
• DCP: A dry chemical extinguisher sprays a very fine powder of
sodium bicarbonate .(NaHCO3, baking soda)

• Foam type: is a cylinder containing water, sodium bicarbonate,

an agent (often licorice powder) for strengthening the foam, and an
inner container of aluminum sulfate powder.

• Inergen Gas: is a mixture of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide,

and has been specially developed to provide fire protection for
sensitive electrical and electronic instruments and equipment.

• Hydrant : Pressurised water, sprinkler system

• CO2: Extinguishers are suitable for Class B risks involving
flammable liquids and for electrical hazards. CO2 is harmless to
electrical equipment
Remember to RACE during
a fire
• R escue – rescue clients in immediate
danger.
• A lert – yell out “Code Red”/”Fire” (or whatever
your facility implementing procedure dictates), pull fire
alarm, dial emergency phone number.
• C ontain – Close all doors and windows.
• E xtinguish/Evacuate – Extinguish small
fires, evacuate clients, if appropriate.
 How to Use a Fire
Extinguisher
It’s easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher
if you remember the acronym PASS:

 Pull
 Aim
 Squeeze
 Sweep
 Pull the pin…

This will allow

you to
discharge the
extinguisher
 Aim at the base of the fire…

Hit the fuel.

If you aim at
the flames...
 Sweep from side to side…

.. until the fire is

completely out.
Start using the extinguisher
from a safe distance away, then
slowly move forward.

Once the fire is out, keep an eye on the area in case it re-
ignites.
• Why is smoke dangerous?

– Gets so thick and black that you can’t see

• can’t find your way out
– Can cause irritation when inhaled
• causes choking and you can’t breathe
– Can cause confusion because you can’t see or
breathe
 In the event of fire
Do not panic.
If the fire is small use the fire Extinguisher.
Never use the elevator.
Move towards your fire exit (STAIRCASE)
to the designated safe zone.
Do not return to your work place until the
fire is put off and the place is safe to work.
If there is smoke, crawl on your hands and
knees until you are outside.
• Flammable and combustible liquids are potential
fuel sources for fires and are present in almost
every workplace.
• It is actually the vapor created by flammable and
combustible liquids that ignites and burns.
• It is important to understand what materials in
your work area are flammable and combustible so
that you may properly store and isolate them from
ignition sources.
 Chemical Spills
Researchers are responsible for:
– Ensuring spills are reported or cleaned up in a
timely manner
– Cleaning up nuisance spills of materials in
their area, even if someone else spills them
janitors, service people)
– knowing the properties of the materials they
are working with
– taking reasonable steps to prevent spills
 MSDS

Material Safety Data Sheet

A material safety data sheet (MSDS) is a form with data regarding

the properties of a particular substance. An important component of
product stewardship and workplace safety, it is intended to provide
workers and emergency personnel with procedures for handling or
working with that substance in a safe manner, and includes
information such as physical data (melting point, boiling point, flash
point, etc.), toxicity, health effects, first aid, reactivity, storage,
disposal, protective equipment, and spill-handling procedures.
 Storage Guidelines
• Maintain at least a 3ft
• All storage must clearance from heating
be at least 3 ft surfaces, air ducts, heaters,
from electrical and lighting fixtures.
panels. In some • Storage of combustible
materials in mechanical
emergency rooms is prohibited. Improper Mechanical
situations it will Room Storage

be necessary to Improper Storage in front

access these of Electrical Panel

panels quickly.
• Good housekeeping habits are an important part of a
safe workplace.
• Why is good housekeeping important?
– To reduce ignition hazards.
– To ensure safe emergency evacuation of occupants.
– To allow for quick emergency response.
– To reduce amounts of flammable and combustible materials.
 25

21% Normal Conditions

20
17% Some muscle impairment-increased
breathing
Oxygen in Air (percent)

15
12% Dizziness,
headache, fatigue

10 9% Unconsciousness

6% Death within a few minutes

5

0
Exit Door To Be Clear Any Time
Office Escape Plan
 First Aid
• BURNS

• MINOR – Immediately cool the burn area by putting it under cool

running water or in a sink filled with cool water for at least five minutes or
until the pain subsides.

• Never apply butter, grease or ointment. Don’t open blisters or remove dead
skin. Cover with gauze. If blisters break, apply a clean dressing. If the burn
is on the face, covers an area bigger than your hand or if it blisters, call the
doctor or emergency number.

• SEVERE – Have victim lie down and cover him or her. Never remove
clothing or clean the burns. Call for emergency help.
Emergency call point
Thank you

Louis Pasteur